Toe pad



Oct. 10, 1933. E, EL 1,930,413

TOE PAD Filed July 30, 1930 Patented Got. 19

TE PAD Edward N. Bruel, Brooklyn, N. if.

Application July 313, 133i?- Serial Nil. 471,3Ql5

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toe pads and more particularly to a cushioning pad for use in relief of pressure on corns or bunions, either by direct application or indirect action.

It has heretofore been proposed in the treatment of bunions, corns and the like, to provide separating or spreading devices disposed between the toes to cause the same to either assume a correct position and thereby eliminate the protusions ordinarily forming bunions, or by their separation provide relief from pressure causing the formation of a corn. Such devices, however, have heretofore been so constructed that the pressure restoring the toe to its normal position or maintaining the separation of the toe from an adjacent toe to relieve a corn is uniform under all conditions and have necessarily, therefore, been so constructed that they will withstand the maximum pressure to which the foot is subjected. It is quite obvious that when there is no weight upon the foot and, accordingly, no tendency of the foot to spread and thereby cause a stretching of the shoe about the foot, the pressure required to maintain a proper position or separation of the toes is materially different from that required when pressure is actually applied in standing. Therefore, such devices in order to have a proper pressure at times when the weight is placed on the foot must have too great a pressure at times when the weight is removed therefrom.

An important object of the present invention is the production of a device which will afford a just sufiicient pressure to maintain the proper position or separation of the toes during times when the weight is not placed thereon and when the weight is placed thereon will automatically increase such pressure so that it is sufficient to resist the tendency of the shoe to cramp the foot.

Another object of this invention is to produce a pad of this character so constructed that in use as a bunion pad it will automatically massage the great toe and thereby strengthen the muscles thereof. By the combination of the automatically controlled pressure explained in the preceding paragraph and this automatic massage, a cure may be effected in incipient cases of hallux valgus.

A further object of the invention is to produce a pad of this character so constructed that in use it will automatically supply a powder to the foot for the purpose of absorbing perspiration and avoiding the discomfort ordinarily occasioned thereby.

A still further object of the invention is the production of a pad of this character which is adjustable as to the resistance which it affords in maintaining separation of the toes.

These and other objects I attain by the construotion shown in the accompanying drawing wherein, for the purpose ofillustration, I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a pad constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation illustrating the application of the pad;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating others of the variety of forms in which the pad canbe constructed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a still further form of the pad;

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the application of the form of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a combined perspective of the cores provided for reinforcing and regulating the stiffness of the pads; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the use of a further form of core.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the pad in any of these forms is constructed from very soft and porous sponge rubber. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the pad 10 is substantially val in cross section and is decreased in size upon both diameters at or about its center as indicated at 11. Vertical openings 12 are formedftherein, there being two of these openings illustrated in the present instance. However; a single opening may be provided as in the pad of Figs. 4 and 5 where desired or the pad may be left imperforate under certain conditions. Where the-pad is perforated, a series of cores as illustrated in Fig. 8 are provided, these cores having the same length as the depth of the pad and being of different diameters for a purpose hereinafter to appear. The depth of the pad is made greater than the thickness of the toes which engage the pad at the restricted central portion 11 thereof so that when applied between the toes the pad projects above and below the same as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will be obvious that the reduced central portion of the pad will afford a predetermined resistance to crushing and that this resistance may be regulated to a certain extent by placing in an opening 12 thereof a core 13 of the desired size. Should the largest core 13 provided with the pad fail to give the desired resistance, the opening 12 may be filled with shredded lambs wool or some similar substance as indicated at 13-a in the sectional view of Fig. 9.

In use of the device, the porous structure thereof which is the only portion of the pad coming in actual contact with the toes is preferably filled with a moisture-resistant powder such as the ordinary foot powders. Where an opening 12 is provided in the pad, the powder may be conveniently interspersed through the pad by placing the same in the opening, closing the ends of the opening with the fingers and then alternately compressing the pad and permitting it to expand until the powder has worked through the pores to the exterior thereof.

When a device of this character is applied to the toes, as, for example, according to the illustration of Fig. 2 each time that the weight of the body is imposed on the foot, due to the tendency of the foot to spread and the shoe to fiattent by approach of the upper to the sole as a result of this spreading, the projecting portions 14 of the pad will be subjected to crushing pressure and through the resilient structure will impose a portion of this pressure in a direction tending to crowd portions of the projecting portions between the toes. The resistance afforded by the reduced central section is thus automatically reinforced at each step and substantially constant resistance to tendency of the toes to approach one another is provided. Furthermore, the crushing tendency tends to impel air from the pad by closing the pores thereof and the air in moving from the pores carries with it a portion of the powder, thus insuring the constant delivery thereof to the foot.

Furthermore, when used as a bunion pad between the great and first toes the crushing pressure tends to massage the great toe and strengthens the muscles thereoffwith the result that the toe will often return to its normal strength and condition, particularly in incipient cases of hallux valgus.

While the oval form of the pad is preferable for use in many situations, it will, of course, be obvious that in different locations different pad forms may be desirable. I have illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 forms of the pad which are substantially triangular and rectangular in cross section respectively. The form of the pad illustrated at 10 -a in Figs. 6 and 7 is particularly adapted for use with soft corns upon the small toe. This form of the pad is made from a desired thickness of the material and is oval in form having a central opening therethrough for the passage of the toe. The opening is circular in form so that areas 14a of increased thickness are provided above and beneath the toe when the pad is in applied position. These areas act in exactly the same manner as the areas 14 hereinbefore referred to and have the additional advantage of preventing any actual contact between the toe and the shoe due to the fact that the upper surface of the toe is protected by the increased thickness of the projecting portion.

Since the pad may obviously be constructed in a substantially endless variety of forms to suit various needs, I do-not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the particular constructions hereinbefore described except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, a highly elastic pad comprising a central portion of substantially uniform diameter adapted to extend between the toes, and of greater depth than the toes, and shouldered end portions of considerable depth to extend well above and below the toes for continual contact with a shoe placed upon the foot.

2. In a device of the type described, a thickwalled tube of highly elastic and flexible rubber, said tube having a restricted central portion and having a length considerably greater than the depths of the toes whereby when said central portion is placed between the toes the ends of the tube project well above and below the toes and partially overlie the same, and a removable filling for the tube of the same material as the tube.

EDWARD N. BRUEL. 

